CONCORD, N.C. – The WKA RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series will return to a 4-cycle-only national tour in 2013, and included in the new season’s class structure will be three new Briggs Animal Pro Gas divisions.

The new Pro Gas classes will be for Briggs Animal engines running on unleaded pump gasoline from a designated

Briggs Pro Gas Sportsman will be offered for racers age 7 to 12 years old, Briggs Pro Gas Junior for the 12- to 15-year-old category and Briggs Pro Gas Senior for drivers age 15 and up.

The three classes will run the final one, final two format and count the best seven out of 10 races toward a single national championship.

Here’s where it gets interesting.

In addition to the traditional national championship eagle trophies and other WKA awards, the champions of these three Briggs Pro Gas classes will be awarded an array of valuable prizes and products, led by a brand-new, turn-key go-kart chassis.

Coyote Motorsports, Margay Racing Chassis and Razor Chassis have posted primary sponsorship for the three classes. Each Pro Gas national class champion will win a brand-new Coyote, Margay or Razor chassis. Each kart will come complete with a Briggs & Stratton Pro Gas Animal engine and all key running gear, including clutch, tires, wheels, bodywork, etc., with exception to an electronic gauge.

It is yet to be determined which class winner will receive which chassis, however, it may come from a random draw or a mutual agreement among the three class champions.

A number of companies have stepped up to support this program with product awards for the 2013 racing season and year-end awards ceremony. In addition to Coyote, Margay, Razor / Roberts Kart Shop, the following companies are providing product sponsorship for the 2013 Pro Gas Gold Cup classes.

- Briggs & Stratton Racing

-Kart City Performance

-Baker Racing Engines

-American Power Sports

-Dyno Cams

-Target Distributing

-MGM Chassis Co.

-Michigan Kart Supply

-Bridgestone

-RLV Tuned Exhaust Products

-ARC Racing

-R2C Performance Filters

-Jammer Clutches

-Tomar Clutches

-SMC Clutches

-Bully Clutches

Technical engine specs for these new classes are being developed and will be announced shortly.

Many benefits highlight this new Animal Pro Gas engine program. Financial benefits include a lower cost to build, increased time between rebuilds, reduced labor time and lower engine and overall maintenance costs.

The Pro Gas engines will also feature increased engine durability, user-friendly pump gasoline usage and the elimination of carburetor corrosion issues that are currently associated with methanol fuel use.

Regarding engine performance, the Sportsman and Junior classes will see similar horse power and track lap times as the current methanol-fueled Animal. In the Senior class, the Pro Gas will run a slightly lower horse power at lower RPM levels but still very comparable at high RPM levels.

This performance equality will be emphasized utilizing some of the following spec internal and external components.